I gave up, folks. I did. I was staring down the list of people to whom I'd ideally love to send Holiday cards, and I just said "Fuck it."I don't actually like writing holiday cards, to be honest, though I can argue eloquently in favor of them. I realize you don't send them because you like writing "Happy Holidays" fifty-seven times; you send them because you want the person on the other end to know you're thinking of them. They're important to you. And you really truly do wish them the happiest times the season has to offer.I get that.Hell, I even believe in it. Like, as a way to make the world a better, more gracious place - I believe the humble Holiday Card can do that.But friends, oh friends, I am TIRED. Exhausted. I've got nothing more to give after this week of tying everything up for clients with neat Holiday bows. My hair is a mess, my house is worse, and I've been wearing the same sweater, which I somehow dragged across tomato pulp last night, for days.So I said "Fuck it" to Christmas cards, because when I get overwhelmed, I take the first thing I don't want to do and... I don't do it.This sounds like a terrible thing to admit, but hang with me for a moment, because as a life philosophy (and as a marketing philosophy), this isn't the worst idea.Marie Kondo, author of "The Life Changing Method of Tidying Up," basically summed it up like this: If it doesn't bring you joy, throw it out.I say that's just as true for life - and marketing - as it is for de-cluttering closets.I've long been an advocate of making lists of what you love, what you hate, and what you can do to increase the first and decrease (or eliminate) the latter. Doing this frees up not just your time, but your mental space for creativity. And, it even makes you a better friend, spouse, daughter, sister (whatever your social relationships may be), because you have energy to give to improving and enjoying those relationships.That's how it works in life, but let's look at this when it comes to marketing.There is a lot about traditional marketing techniques that I don't enjoy.For example, I hate networking. And, judging by the number of articles like "Four Reasons You Hate Networking and What to Do Instead" - I'm not alone. Go ahead, read that article. I'll warn you, though, the title is misleading. This article offers no actual alternatives to networking, but does suggest ways to still go to networking events and not feel as stressed out by them.I don't network.At all.I went to one 6am networking event just to see what it was about, and disavowed them forever (and not just because 6am precludes the possibility of holding up my end of a coherent conversation).But here's the thing - if the purpose of networking is to get more business through knowing more people, and sharing ideas to grow or improve your business with other like-minded professionals - I'm really great at that. Nearly all of my business comes from referrals from past clients, and referrals from other writers and marketing professionals. Not because I "network" with them. But because we've become genuine friends.I love this so much that a friend and I started Copy Muse Collective, an ever-expanding group of freelance writers, marketers and graphic designers who share questions, answers, laughs, ideas, triumphs and failures with each other (and refer work to each other). It's not built around "what can you do for me?" It's a way of working together to build each other up, in the way that friends do.Do you see what I'm getting at?I don't "network" because it doesn't feel good to me. It feels like using people. I do make friends, because that feels amazing.It's also effective marketing.As another example: One of my friends, a professional social media curator (she gets her clients sososo many followers), just started using Instagram. But she didn't really 'get it' at first, so she didn't bring strategy to it like she would for Twitter or Facebook. She just posted what she was passionate about - her photographic art. In this last year alone, she's grown her following to 1,001 (as of today). Without even trying. By posting what she loves. By being completely authentic. (Take a look at her work, and if you love it as much as I do, become follower #1,002).Here's what I think. I think the best marketing comes out of doing what you love and connecting with people you love - and chucking what you don't love.Doing what you love gives you energy for your business and for your life. And you can't have that same energy if you spend your time doing what you don't love.So, this year, my best advice for marketing and life is this: Do what brings you joy.And to the rest: Say "Fuck it."(Also, I'd like to apologize to my dear friends, whom I cherish, for not sending you Holiday Cards)Photo Credit:Nichole Elizabeth Demere's Instagram